Blessed Beyond Recognition
Scripture Reference: John 20:11 - 16 (KJV)
John 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
There are times when we are not recognized by people that we expect to recognize us and we may take offense to it.
However it may not be that the people do not like us or don’t think that we deserve recognition. It may just be that we are too blessed to be recognized.
We are ready to throw in the towel and bring havoc on whoever we think has wronged us but we need to understand that God may be blessing us beyond the recognition of men.
In this passage of scripture:
Immediately following the Sabbath (the day of rest) Mary Magdalene, a woman who truly loved Jesus, returned to his burial site (John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.)
Though she immediately recognized that the stone had been removed she stayed there crying and looking for Jesus (Verse 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,) .
Though he had said that he would return in three days (Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.) most people either did not fully believe that he would be able to do it or found something more important than waiting for His return that they needed to do.
The disciples were not at the sepulchre on third day to see the resurrection. Mary had to run and get them. (Matthew 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.)
This is interesting because this was the greatest work of Jesus Christ and his closest followers were not there to see it. Has God promised us some miraculous things in our lives? What’s holding us back from being present to see them come to fruition?
Mary Magdalene was one of his closest followers, she was one who he had even healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Seven devils had come out of this great woman of God (Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,).
This too is an interesting point because if she had any doubt that she had been fully healed then this would have been a perfect opportunity for Satan to come in and play tricks with her mind.
Some of us are continuing to allow Satan to play tricks with our mind even though we are sure that we have been healed by the hand of God. Every time we feel a little weak we go into a total tailspin allowing Satan to toss us to and fro as if we had never even heard the name of Jesus before. Mary Magledene had been healed and was determined to walk in the faith of her healing we need to be like this great woman of God.
Because Mary Magledene followed Jesus so closely it was obvious that she had seen him many times. It would seem as though since she had been at his gravesite waiting for his return, even after the disciples and everyone else gathered around had already left, she should have been able to recognize him.
However when he finally did appear, not only did she not recognize him but she had mistaken him as being only a gardener.
By Mary being in a strange place surrounded by people that she was not familiar with it was quite possible for her to be frightened by the man whom she did not immediately recognize at a time like this.
Yet Jesus presented himself as a person who was familiar with the surroundings and absolutely no threat to this woman (the gardener) (Verse 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.).
Even if we are in despair we should never be frightened by the presence of God. Though we should always fear God (Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.) we should never be frightened by his approach to us when we are attempting to serve him.
Webster defines gardener simply as someone who takes care of the garden.
Webster defines a garden as a piece of ground designated to cultivate
Her mistaking him as a gardener was not a terrible thing because soon after God had created man he planted a garden (Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.).
Mary did not do so much as to think that it was Joseph who was the owner of the garden. She may have thought that it was way too early and inconvenient for a man of his statue to be in the garden.
The point that I am trying to make is that Mary knew Jesus way too well to have a close encounter with him and she not even recognize who he was. Some of us today are having close encounters with God and we are not even recognizing Him for who He is.
Had Jesus been a normal man he could have taken great offense to what Mary had done but because of who he is who he seemed to have understood.
Jesus had just been resurrected which was a great gift from God so he had to look blessed. He had just totally and finally defeated the devil. He had just proven to man that there would be a day that he would be resurrected too.
We may have great friends that are willing to do great things for us but not many of us have friends that would do what Mary was willing to do for Christ.
She wanted to take him away (Verse 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.). He had to weigh more than she did. Not only did he weigh his normal weight but he would have had the weight of a dead man had he still been in the tomb.
We may have accomplished great things in our life but there could be nothing that we have done to come close to what Jesus had just accomplished. Yet in the midst of all of this glory he was not even recognized. He was blessed beyond recognition.
The mystery of who his identity was completely ended when Jesus called her name (Verse 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.). After one call from Jesus there were no more questions or concerns. Mary was immediately submissive to the will of God. Her desire was to do whatever it was that he would have for her to do. What will it take for us to become totally submissive to the will of God. We have heard his voice and he has even gone as far as to give us instructions, now what will it take to make you move forward.
CONCLUSION
Maybe we are blessed beyond recognition.
Maybe that person that you think has no respect for you admires you more than you ever thought or knew. Who are we to complain when we are not recognized?
What if every time we had a close encounter with Jesus (believe me we have them more than you think) and did not recognize him that he got as upset as we are about people not recognizing us?
How would we be able to deal with such a God?
We need to be thankful that God is using us the way that he is. When we finally recognize that Jesus is the one that we have been talking to for all of this time, What will we do then?
Let me tell you this. That would be the perfect time to let him know the best way that we can that he is the master and we are his servants.
That would also be the perfect opportunity to let him know once and for all that we are ready to serve (no more games).
Let’s Pray
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane Sr.
